A Summer Evening Drive

Today, the car has become a tool that makes our daily lives easier—though sometimes more complicated.

Herr Benz or Mr. Ford would be amazed if they suddenly found themselves behind the wheel of a modern electric car.

Yet only a few decades ago, owning a car in Hungary was almost a luxury.
They were far more common in children’s toy garages than on the streets.

I fell in love with cars as a child. My first toy car was a dark green Peugeot 404, and later, almost miraculously, I managed to get a Matchbox Ford Cortina.

The building where I grew up was a huge apartment complex with several hundred flats, yet only a handful of families owned cars. I still clearly remember the first four: a Skoda 1000 MB, which I still consider one of the most beautiful cars ever made; an NSU Prinz; a Zastava 750, though at the time I had no idea that the Yugoslav small car was built under an Italian licence; and a Trabant 601.

Today, it is no longer unusual for a family to own several cars. In rural areas they make transportation easier, while in cities they often serve as a convenience or even a status symbol.

There is also a community of owners for whom a car is not simply an object but an entire universe. The value of rare classic cars often reaches extraordinary levels, and their proud owners regularly display them at gatherings. More and more private collections and exhibitions are also opening their doors.

Not long ago, I finally had the opportunity to fulfil an old dream and buy a convertible. Only true enthusiasts know that the renowned Italian design house Bertone also built cars for Opel. Between 1993 and 1999, Bertone produced the Astra F Convertible, followed by the Astra G Convertible and Coupe between 2000 and 2005. These models are distinguished not only by Bertone’s refined design but also by the fact that many were actually assembled at the Bertone factory, although they shared most of their components with standard production models.

I think it is a rather special feeling to lift the bonnet and find both the Opel and Bertone identification plates side by side.

But enough of an owner’s pride. Driving a convertible can feel like speeding across the water in an open motorboat. On a winding forest road, carried along by the fresh evening breeze, you might even watch a butterfly drift gracefully across your path.

Convertible enthusiasts maintain several clubs, organise gatherings and group drives, and happily exchange recommendations for their favourite scenic routes.

Classic American films almost always feature the drive-in cinema, where enormous chrome-covered American cruisers slowly roll into place. Music flows from the speakers beside each parking space, while legendary melodies and the stars of old Hollywood appear on the giant screen.

Hungary once had several drive-in cinemas, although most have long since closed.

However, one still operates near the Hungaroring. During the summer and early autumn months, film screenings are held roughly once a month for those who appreciate this unique atmosphere.

Before each event, the organisers ask followers on social media to vote on which film they would like to see. The voting is usually close, but everyone eventually accepts the final choice.

When we arrive in front of the giant screen, it is usually still daylight. The film itself matters, of course, but this is also when the real event begins. Many remarkable cars arrive, from beautifully preserved everyday production models to genuine classics and increasingly valuable youngtimers.

After walking around and admiring the cars, it is only polite to congratulate the owners of particularly beautiful examples, who are understandably proud of the appreciation they receive.

People unpack sandwiches or choose something from the snack bar, and the drive-in gradually turns into a picnic. There is plenty of time for relaxed conversations because there is no need to rush. In fact, if your car is parked in the middle of the audience, leaving before the film ends is practically impossible.

Once darkness falls, the screening begins. At the latest event, the audience chose Cars 2. Instead of listening through external speakers, the soundtrack is broadcast on a dedicated FM radio frequency, allowing everyone to enjoy the film through their own car’s sound system.

Above us stretches the evening sky, while in front of us the story races across the giant screen. By the time the film ends, it is already around ten o’clock.

On the drive back to Budapest, we can take another leisurely cruise through the lively nightlife, admiring the beautifully illuminated buildings.

For a while, we become part of the city’s night. The worries and sometimes exhausting burdens of everyday life have quietly slipped away.

For those few hours, time belonged only to us.

And the memories will remain ours alone.

By Viktor Szentkiralyi